Local Support Groups?

Hi all, I am wondering if you go to local support groups and find them beneficial? I get a lot from ya'll and this board and the mtgs have been hard to get to; just wondering about your experiences.... Tiffany

The one's from my surgeon's group are just not convenient for me. They only meet twice a month and later in the evening and I can't drive at night. So I can't go The one I went to pre-op was a waste of time. I was hoping to hear from people who had had the surgery and there was not one there. Only pre-ops who had to go as part of the program. The topic of the day was, "self-esteem". I didn't need to go to a group meeting to discuss that. Guess that's why I try and make such good use of this board.

Hi Tiffany, I have attended two support group meetings. The first one is run by my surgery team. It was a joke, there was well over 50 people there. There were three speakers schedule in an hour and the room was not set up properly. The second one I went to is sponsored by another surgeon's group, there was one speaker, it was well organized and the group was a managable number 12 or so. I liked attending the second group and plan to go back. I also post on the Texas board. For some reason I like knowing that there are others close by (physical proximity) that I can turn to. It is also beneficial b/c there are all stages of us there. I really like the Jan board but we are all pretty much at the same stage. God Bless, Jen

The WLS Program I went to has a great support group that meets once a month on Saturday morning, 9:30 AM. I have been almost every month. I wi**** met more often. I would like to go to something weekly, but I haven't gotten organized enough to try to find out about other groups in my area.

I have Kaiser insurance.....it was madatory to attend lifestyle classes before surgery and support groups. And after surgery every third saturday from 9:30am to 12:30pm. They also have support groups on Tuesday but those are not required. Only if you need more support. They check are weight then we start talking about are experiences and open discussion. We have a nurse, behavior specialist, post op patients several years out speak and sometimes the surgeons drop in and give us a prep talk............ Overall Kaiser is pretty good. I have called and asked questions and I always receive a phone call back by the end of the day.....Suzan

They offer them twice a month at my surgeons office. They have different speakers each time. I haven't gone yet. It's a 45 min. drive and after work I just don't feel like doing it. I keep saying that I will go to the one this week. It's on Thursday. I will let you know if I go. Leeanne

They have them once a month where I live, the 3rd Weds at 7pm. I had to go to one pre-op and I wasn't crazy about it. The topic was smoking and WLS. I don't smoke so I got nothing from it. Now that I am post op DH works every Wed evening so I couldn't go even if I wanted to (no babysitter) Dawn

I go to the one at the hospital where my surgery was performed. It is once a month on a Tuesday from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. I like it and I go with my cousin who is a year post op. Carly

I hent to over 50 meetings pre operatively. Yesterday night went to my first post op only WLSG meeting last night and I loved it! We had a small informal group of about 15 and the Facillitator. We meet once a month, listen to a speaker and, after the meeting we have a clothing swap. April